Spousal Social Security Benefit

[youbet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrnsfan Thanks to everyone for your comments and ideas. After all was discussed, I think that I'm in for that long hold on the telephone waiting for the Social Security representative....and then praying you have one that is competent.

Before you call, be absolutely sure to Google and read about WEP and GPO. There are many well done explanations available including on the SS web site. They are not hard policies to understand but for some reason many folks just refuse to take an hour or two and dig in.

Several posters have given well done, basic explanations on this thread, but invest just a bit more time. You won't regret it.

[Chuckanut]

Here’s one explanation of WEP and GPO that might help:

https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/li...557e701e4.html

“Folks who spend the bulk of their careers in jobs not covered by Social Security are potentially subject to a couple of offsets that impact either their own Social Security benefit (based on Social Security-covered work they did outside of their regular job) or any benefits they potentially might be due from their spouse’s Social Security record. There always has been a great deal of confusion and an awful lot of misinformation about those offsets.”

[Irishgirlyc58]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet Yes, but it's not a choice the teachers make. Their state policy dictates whether they are part of SS or not. You were fortunate in your situation in Missouri Chuckanut!

Actually in California it’s based on each school district’s participation or non participation in social security.

I am subject to WEP. I used the detailed calculator on the my social security site specific for WEP. It was quite accurate.
I also did a manual calculation based on the formula for WEP- came up with the same figure.
GPO is slightly different but I’m not married so never looked at it.
But I believe there is a pretty straightforward calculation for it as well.

I encourage anyone who is subject to WEP and/or GPO to look at all of the information available on the social security site and use the detailed calculations to determine the impact.
My impact wasn’t too bad based on my individual circumstances.
My last 16 years of working at my highest earnings for a local government agency that participated in SS made a difference.
Had I listened to other people on how it impacted them I’d probably still be working. [emoji23]

[horrnsfan]

I checked out the referenced SS calculator and think I have my answer. At present my wife's ss benefit is being reduced because of WEP. When I file she will be eligible for a spousal benefit, but be subject to the GPO. My ss benefit will be approximately $3,000 per month. Her current TRS monthly benefit is approximately $1,200 per month. When I entered the numbers into the calculator it arrived at a month spousal benefit of $733 per month. Without GPO she would have received a spousal benefit of $1,500 per month. This seems to make sense, although I don't necessarily agree with the penalty since she had previously earned her quarters.....so be it.


If my math looks way off let me know, otherwise thanks to all that offered advice.